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PEST LIBRARY / ANTS / CARPENTER ANT

CARPENTER ANT INFORMATION & FACTS

Carpenter ants are very abundant in Ontario and are common pests in homes, cottages and businesses. The most common carpenter ants are the familiar large, black ants that are one-half inch or more in length and shiny black. Other kinds of carpenter ants, however, are as small as one-quarter inch and are reddish brown or two-toned. One consistent characteristic of all carpenter ants is the smoothly rounded outline of the thorax when viewed from the side. 

Carpenter ants do not eat wood but instead construct their nests in wood such as hollow trees, stumps, logs, posts, landscaping timbers, and the lumber used in homes and other structures. Nests are made by chewing an interconnecting series of tunnels and cavities. Wood is removed as coarse sawdust-like material that is pushed from the nest. The sawdust may include other debris such as dead ants, parts of insects and other food.

Carpenter ants are found indoors in the winter usually come from nests somewhere within the house. Ants found indoors during spring or summer could be invaders wandering in from outdoors or they may be foragers from a nest in the wall or ceiling. While there is no easy way to determine the source, it does pay to check carefully before making any treatment.

Locating the source of carpenter ants is as important as it is difficult. It is especially difficult if only a few ants are seen at one time. Our best suggestion is to spend time observing ants to see if you can detect a pattern of movement. In spring and summer carpenter ants are more active at night and observations after sunset, with a flashlight on the outside and inside of the house may give an indication of the source. Presence of sawdust (Frass) is an important clue in locating ant nests.

CARPENTER ANT CONTROL & MANAGEMENT

Carpenter ant control is a job for a pest management professional. 

The best carpenter ant removal comes by locating and treating the nest (indoors or out). The practical alternative indoors is to treat room edges, cracks and crevices in the areas where foraging workers are abundant and hope to reduce the population through gradual elimination of the foragers. Most ant baits are consistently not effective in eliminating carpenter ants.

However, specially formulated carpenter ant baits that were recently introduced to the pest control industry are becoming more effective. We recommend considering professional carpenter ant treatment using these new baits when other techniques have been unsuccessful. Injection directly into the colonies and satellite colonies are always the best method for true success.

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Trevor Dixon

I want to thank Sarah! She really did a amazing inspection! I had a issue with mice. Sarah cover the inside and outside taking care of holes/gaps above the front and back doors. attics and garage. And has a very caring attitude towards her clients! I have know about Environmental Pest control for many years as they looked after issues with a school board I worked for.


Margo Dixon

We just had a fall treatment done at our country property. We never hesitate to call this company to protect us from ladybugs, cluster flies and more. You can count on them for punctuality, professionalism and thoroughness. Shout out to Cody who went above and beyond today: on his own accord, he brought our garbage/recycling bins to our garage door from the road and was able to retrieve a helium balloon that had floated up to the top of our cathedral ceiling. We are seniors, so these gestures of kindness were most appreciated. Highly recommend!


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I cannot rate this company high enough. I first talked with Thomas on the phone. He was so polite and patient with this 79 year old lady animal advocate. He talked me through everything and I made my choice of the service I desired. I got an appointment the next day. Craig was right on time and he went through everything again and made sure I understood the whole procedure. I feel I got a very fair price for the work done. Do not hesitate to call Environmental Pest Control if you need help with wasps as I did!


Heather Lundberg

I recently had the bait boxes refilled to avoid having mice move into my house as the weather turns colder. Mike and Jake arrived at the appointed time. Both gentlemen were polite, friendly and very professional. When they left, I contacted Kassandra to arrange payment. She was lovely, pleasant and polite, a pleasure to speak with. I have used the services of this company for years and have always been pleased.